Sammy Hagar's #1 Rule in Life: Don't Ever F**k Anybody

The legendary rocker's two keys to success—integrity and relentless belief in your ideas—are a blueprint for achieving greatness without compromising your values.
Sammy Hagar's #1 Rule in Life: Don't Ever F**k Anybody
Sammy Hagar's #1 Rule in Life: Don't Ever F**k Anybody / The Everyday Warrior Nation

Success isn't just about fame, fortune, or being the best at your work—it's about how you achieve it. The 'how' is just as important as the 'what.' In a conversation about what has guided him throughout his life, legendary musician and entrepreneur Sammy Hagar shared two simple but profound rules. And his number one rule? "Don't ever f**k anybody."

Hagar's words are blunt, but the message is powerful and direct. For him, integrity is the bedrock of success. Hagar has always tried to choose a different path in a world where people often cut corners or make selfish decisions for personal gain. His philosophy is straightforward: success isn't real if it comes at the expense of others. "If I feel that one little inch of uh-oh, somebody's gonna get f**ked, I run," Hagar says. That's not just his business approach—that's his life approach. Whether in his music career or entrepreneurial endeavors, Hagar has maintained a strict "win-win" mindset, ensuring everyone involved in his projects benefits. However, the reality is that this doesn't always happen. Humans are complex, and even with the best of intent, some people end up getting screwed in the end. 

This rule goes beyond simply not taking advantage of others. It's about being fair and transparent and fostering trust in every relationship. In leadership and life, trust is everything. Burning bridges or taking advantage of people might get you ahead in the short term, but it will always catch up to you... if you are at fault. Hagar's career spans decades of success in music and business, proving that you don't have to compromise your values to achieve greatness. In fact, those values might be the very thing that sustains your success.

His second rule is as impactful: Believe in your ideas and put everything into them. Hagar emphasizes that belief isn't just about having confidence but total commitment. "You have to really believe in it. Put 100% of everything you've got available to make it come true," he says. Half-hearted efforts rarely succeed, especially when you're pushing a bold, new idea. 

In Hagar's world, the idea has to be solid, whether it's launching a hit song or starting a tequila brand. "Make sure it's a good idea," he warns because no amount of passion can turn a bad idea into a success. But once you have a great concept, that's when the magic happens—when you pour everything you have into it.

Hagar's rules offer a straightforward yet powerful roadmap for leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs. First, protect your integrity. Don't screw people over in the pursuit of success because trust is the foundation upon which long-term success is built. Second, once you’ve got a great idea, go all in. Belief and commitment are what transform ideas into reality. 

Let's be realistic: life isn't black and white, and everyone has made mistakes. Even Hagar admits he's not perfect, but the key is learning from those moments and staying committed to your principles. The success achieved through honest effort and unwavering belief is the success that lasts.

So, what can we learn from Sammy Hagar? Two simple rules: *Don’t ever f**k anybody*, and *believe in your ideas with everything you’ve got.* If you follow these, you'll not only find success, but you’ll do it the right way—without losing your soul in the process. And that’s something worth striving for.


Published
Mike Sarraille
MIKE SARRAILLE

Mike Sarraille is the founder and CEO of Talent War Group, a consulting and executive search firm; and Legacy Expeditions, an extreme adventure company which has set 4 x world records in skydiving. Mike is a 2023 and 2024 Top 30 Global Gurus leadership speaker, 2 x Best-Selling Author of The Talent War: How Special Operations and Great Organizations Win on Talent and The Everyday Warrior: A No-Hack, Practical Approach to Life. Mike also participated in the filming and production of two documentaries, Drop Zone Everest and Triple 7: They Said It Couldn’t Be Done. Mike started the Everyday Warrior Initiative on Men’s Journal in 2022 before moving it to Sports Illustrated On SI alongside his co-host John Welbourn. He is a former Recon Marine and Scout-Sniper, and retired US Navy SEAL